I. Job Summary
The Senior Manager, Payroll Tax and Compliance leads the development and execution of the organization's payroll tax strategy, ensuring full compliance with federal, state, local, and international payroll tax regulations while supporting broader payroll and finance objectives. This role balances strategic leadership with deep technical expertise, overseeing payroll tax operations for a large, complex workforce and serving as a trusted advisor to Payroll, Finance, HR, and leadership. The Senior Manager of Payroll Tax proactively identifies risk, drives continuous improvement, and ensures payroll tax processes are scalable, compliant, and aligned with enterprise priorities
II. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership:
- Develop and execute a forward-looking payroll tax strategy that aligns with organizational objectives and the overall payroll operating model.
- Serve as a strategic partner to Payroll Operations, Accounting, HR, and Legal, contributing insights to executive-level discussions impacting payroll, tax, and workforce initiatives.
- Identify emerging payroll tax risks, legislative changes, and compliance trends; proactively assess impacts and recommend mitigation strategies.
Lead and influence cross-functional initiatives related to payroll transformations, system implementations, integrations, and process redesign.
Payroll Tax Operations & Compliance:
- Oversee end-to-end payroll tax operations, ensuring accurate and timely calculation, withholding, filing, and remittance of all payroll taxes.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and applicable international payroll tax laws, regulations, and reporting requirements.
- Provide subject matter expertise on complex taxable transactions, including equity compensation (e.g., RSUs, stock options), supplemental wages, fringe benefits, and multi-state taxation.
- Manage the year-end payroll tax process, including W-2/W-2c reporting, reconciliations, and coordination with internal and external auditors.
Oversee payroll tax audits, notices, and inquiries, ensuring timely resolution and effective communication with regulatory agencies.
Governance, Risk & Controls:
- Establish and maintain strong payroll tax governance, internal controls, and documented procedures to support compliance and audit readiness.
- Define and monitor payroll tax key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and operational excellence.
- Lead root cause analysis for payroll tax issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Ensure payroll tax policies and procedures are regularly reviewed, updated, and communicated to stakeholders
Systems, Data & Process Improvement:
- Act as the payroll tax lead for payroll and tax systems, including Oracle HCM, ADP Smart Compliance, and related tools.
- Partner with Payroll Operations, Integrations, and Reporting teams to ensure accurate data inputs, system configuration, and reporting integrity.
- Drive continuous improvement through automation, standardization, and optimization of payroll tax processes.
Leverage data analytics to identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities to improve compliance and efficiency.
People Leadership & Collaboration:
- Lead, develop, and mentor payroll tax team members, fostering a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement.
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, payroll vendors, and third-party service providers.
Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll tax matters, providing clear guidance and resolution
Technical & Professional Skills:
- Deep expertise in payroll tax regulations, compliance, and reporting.
- Advanced proficiency with Oracle HCM, ADP Smart Compliance, and payroll tax reporting tools.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex payroll tax data and communicate insights clearly.
- Proven leadership, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to anticipate risk, propose solutions, and drive informed decision-making across the organization.
III. Qualifications
A. Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience, in Accounting, Tax, Business Administration or similar area of study,
- 8 years previous experience.
- 3 years of people leadership experience
B. Preferred Qualifications
- Master's Degree or equivalent experience, in Accounting, Tax, Business Administration or similar area of study,
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Protection Professional (CPP)
IV. Physical Requirements
Listed below are key points regarding physical demands, physical and occupational risks, and the work environment of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Frequently
- Repetitive Motions
- Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination
Constantly
- Sitting
- Talking
- Hearing
Office: This job primarily operates in a professional office environment and routinely requires the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copy machines, etc.
V. Benefits
At WM, each eligible employee receives a competitive total compensation package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Short-Term Disability. As well as a Stock Purchase Plan, Company match on 401K, and more! Our employees also receive Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Personal Days. Please note that benefits may vary by site.
If this sounds like the opportunity that you have been looking for, please click Apply.
About UsABOUT WMWM (WM.com) is North America's leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions. Previously known as Waste Management and based in Houston, Texas, WM is driven by commitments to put people first and achieve success with integrity. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides collection, recycling and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial, medical and municipal customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. With innovative infrastructure and capabilities in recycling, organics and renewable energy, WM provides environmental solutions to and collaborates with its customers in helping them pursue their sustainability goals. WM has the largest disposal network and collection fleet in North America, is the largest recycler of post‑consumer materials and is a leader in beneficial use of landfill gas, with a growing network of renewable natural gas plants and the most landfill gas‑to‑electricity plants in North America. WM’s fleet includes more than 12,000 natural gas trucks – the largest heavy‑duty natural gas truck fleet in the industry in North America. Healthcare Solutions provides collection and disposal services of regulated medical waste, as well as secure information destruction services, in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. To learn more about WM and the company’s sustainability progress and solutions, visit Sustainability.WM.com.
Equal Employment Opportunity
For United States: WM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
For Canada: WM is committed to the principle of equal employment for all applicants and employees, without discrimination on the basis of all grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please notify us if you require accommodation.
Real ID
In order to travel by air or access federal property, federal law requires individuals have a REAL ID or an acceptable alternative. This position may require the successful candidate to travel by air for business reasons or service federal property. Accordingly, successful candidates must have, or be willing to obtain, a REAL ID or TSA‑approved alternative.
About the TeamWhat is the value of a WM job? At WM we know that the value of a WM job is more than a paycheck. It’s a way to create opportunities for you and your family. This is why we are constantly working to make WM a great place to work and grow a career. We Are WM is what defines the perks of being in the WM family – from benefits, to resources and engagement activities.Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Accounting, Tax, Business Administration or similar
- 8 years previous experience
- 3 years of people leadership experience
- Deep expertise in payroll tax regulations, compliance, and reporting
- Advanced proficiency with Oracle HCM
- Advanced proficiency with ADP Smart Compliance
- Experience with equity compensation taxation (RSUs, stock options) and multi-state taxation
- Strong analytical skills and stakeholder management
- Master's Degree or equivalent (in Accounting, Tax, Business Administration)
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Protection Professional (CPP)
What We Do
WM is North America's leading provider of integrated environmental solutions. We partner with our customers and communities to manage and reduce waste from collection to disposal while recovering valuable resources and creating clean, renewable energy. We are on a quest for environmental performance, a mission to maximize resource value, while minimizing – and even eliminating – environmental impact so that both our economy and our environment can thrive. WM tailors its services to meet the needs of each customer group and to ensure consistent, superior service at the local level. Headquartered in Houston, the company serves nearly 20 million municipal, commercial, industrial, and residential customers through a network of 367 collection operations, 355 transfer stations, 273 active landfill disposal sites, 16 waste-to-energy plants, 104 recycling plants, and 111 beneficial-use landfill gas projects.







